A monitoring system for monitoring the condition of and energy guide chain and/or a cable guided in an energy guide chain. Energy guide chains are used for guiding cables, hoses or the like, between abase and a moving end displaceable along a travel path and, in so doing, form a mobile run connected to the moving end, a stationary run with a connection end for the base and a deflection arc between the two runs. A monitoring device with at least one sensing component arranged on the energy guide chain. The monitoring device evaluates a signal generated using the sensing component in order to monitor the occurrence of a fault condition during operation of the energy guide chain. The sensing component includes an electrical indicator conductor guided by the energy guide chain and extending along the greater part of the length of the mobile run. To monitor the condition of a cable and in this case includes two electrical indicator conductors guided by the energy guide chain, the one end of which is connected to the monitoring device and the other end of which is short-circuited.